John William BRACKEN

BRACKEN, John William

Service Numbers: 423608, N172773, 172773
Enlisted: 9 April 1942
Last Rank: Pilot Officer
Last Unit: No. 7 Squadron (RAAF)
Born: Caulfield, Victoria, Australia, 10 October 1923
Home Town: Lismore, Lismore Municipality, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Bank Clerk
Died: Aircraft accident, Higgins Field, Queensland, Australia, Cape York, Queensland, Australia, 2 July 1944, aged 20 years
Cemetery: Townsville War Cemetery, Queensland, Australia
E.D.12.,
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939: Involvement Pilot Officer, 423608
9 Apr 1942: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, N172773
18 Jul 1942: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), Aircrew Training Units
18 Jul 1942: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 423608
18 Jul 1942: Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, 172773
2 Jul 1944: Involvement Pilot Officer, No. 7 Squadron (RAAF)

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Biography contributed by David Barlow

Beaufort A9-377 of Number 7 Squadron crashed 2 miles east of Higgins Field - the aircraft dived into the ground at a sharp angle from about 300 feet, having completed a normal turn down wind after take-off.  The aircraft had been delivered to the RAAF in July 1943.  All crew were killed in the loss:

Flight Sergeant John William Bracken - Pilot (423608) - Son of Richard Thomas Bracken and Agnes Elizabeth Bracken of Roseville, NSW

Flight Sergeant Andrew Frank (427618) - Son of Joseph Henry and Alice Frank & Husband of Eva Grace Frank of Narrogin, WA

Flying Officer Thomas Albert Charles Daymond (429762) - Son of William Albert and Evelyn May Daymond of Kalgoorlie, WA

Flight Sergeant Lionel Ernest James Parkes (413323) - Son of Ernest Stanmore Parkes and Anorah Marcella Parkes of Armidale, NSW

 

Higgins Field, previously known as Jacky Jacky and sometimes called Red Point, was located near the tip of Cape York Peninsula. On 3 June 1943, Lieutenant General Kenney renamed it Higgins Field in honour of Flight Lieutenant Brian Hartley Higgins 400620, killed on air operations on 25 May 1943.

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